Sheet metal container and closure seal therefor



March 13, 1945. M. SCHWARTZ SHEET METAL CONTAINER AND CLOSURE SEAL THEREFOR Filed May 6, 1942 Patented Mar. 13,1945

snna'r METAL CONTAINER anncmsunn SEAL THEREFOR Morris Schwartz, Chicago, 111., assignor to Barrel Fitting & Seal Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 6, 1942, Serial No. 441,901

6 Claims. ((1220-46) ing exerted across the narrow diameter. Thus This invention relates to a container used in shipping or in storing liquids or semi-liquids and a closure seal therefor and has special reference to an open-ended sheet metal container having a sheet metal closure for'the open end held in sealed relation with and against displacement therefrom by an inflatable sealing member.

More particularly, this invention relates to a container comprising an open-ended sheet metal shell having an annular recess extending outwardly in the wall of the shell adjacent the open end thereof and a sheet metal closure for fitting into and enclosing the open end of the shell having a flange extending toward the open end of the shell and parallel to the wall thereof. An inwardly extending annular recess is formed in the flange for registration and cooperation with the outwardly extendingannular recess in the wall of the shell, the cooperating recesses of the flange and shell being of substantially the same cross-sectional area and containing an inflatable tube disposed therein for holding the closure in sealed relation with and against displacement from the open end of the shell.

This invention further relates to a sheet metal container having a closure member secured in sealed relationship thereto by means of an inflatable tube which is arranged to permit the closure member readily to be positioned into place when in a deflated condition but which tightly engages the walls of the container and the closure member when inflated. This invention also relates to an inflatable tubular member having a construction which will permit of ready use with the type of container and closure memleaks through the sealing may occur.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a sealing means which accommodates variations in the configurations of the cooperating closure member and the open-ended sheet metal shell, the sealing means also acting to pre' vent displacement of the closure means from the shell. An outwardly extending annular recess is provided in the wall of the sheet metal shell forming the container and a similar annular recess is provided in the flange of the sheet metal closure therefor to register and cooperate with the recess in the wall to receive an inflatable tube for holding the closure in sealed relation with and against displacement from the open end of the shell. With this construction it is not necessary for the flange of the sheet metal closure to engage tightly all parts of the sheet metal wall of the container, and should the contour of the sheet metal wall of the container at the open end vary in configuration substantially from the contour of the closure member, a perfect seal is nevertheless formed and the closure held against displacement therefrom. It may be desirable, owing to the hard usage to which sheet metal barrels are subjected to reinforce the outwardly extending annular recess of the wall of the shell by a suitable ring of relatively substantial thickness so as to provide a reinforcing structure which will resist to a large extent the force of shocks 'and blows. The wall at the open end of the sheet metal shell may be bent over a portion of the her indicated briefly above and which will provide strong and even pressure throughout the contacted areas when the tube is in an inflated condition. The invention also relates to a valve construction which is particularly suitable for the inflatable tube contemplated herein.

The sheet metal containers or drums in commercial use today are provided with closures which are held on the open-ended sheet metal shell bya suitable locking means, such for example as an expanding or contracting ring. While expanding or contracting rings exert very substantial pressures on the shell to force an engagement thereof with the closure and the sealing means therebetween, still the pressure is not evenly directed in most instances because of the nonuniformity of the metallic shells of the containers. A very substantial pressure maybe exerted across the elongated diameter of a somewhat oval-shaped shell without suiflcient pressure bereinforcing ring to hold the same against displacement and the bent-over portion may provide a seat upon which a peripheral lip on the flange of the closure may rest to predetermine the registration of the opposed annular recess in the shell wall and closure flange for holding the inflatable tube. The seating of the lip on the bent-over portion of the shell also prevents the insertion of a sharp instrument between the closure and the shell which may puncture the inflatable tube. The wall of the flange providing the annular recess of the closure is preferabhr apertured so that a valve from the inflatable tube may extend therethrough so as to be accessible from the outside of the closure. The valve may be enclosed by a seal cap which prevents undetectable access to the contents of the container.

Sheet metal containers having inflatable tube gaskets have heretofore been proposed. These have not been successful because they'either did not overcome the difliculty of positioning the closure member with respect to the container without puncturing or otherwise rupturing inflatable tube gasket, or else the inflatable member, when inflated, was too weak eflectively to seal the closure and prevent its displacement from jacent the areas contacted by it and will prevent" displacement of the closure member.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an inflatable tube gasket having a valve construction which may be readily made and which is leakproof even under extreme conditions of use.

A further and additional object of-this inventhe to predetermine the registration and cooperation of the flange recess with the outwardly extending recess in the wall of the shell. In the form shown, the recesses of the wall of ,the shell and of the flange are semi-circular and are of substantially equal cross-sectional area, the recesses extending in opposed relations to form .a circular crosssectional. area.

An inflatable tube 28, preferably of rubber. is disposed in the channel formed by the cooperating recesses. the tube having a valve 30 extending through an aperture 32 in the annular recess 22 of the flange 20 so that access to the tube may be had for inflating the same. In providing the aperture 32 in the recessed portion of the flange 20, the material bounding the aperture is flared outwardly to provide a circular lip 34 for holding a sealing cap 36 in position to enclose the valve 30.

- same from the valve which tion is the provision of a valve or valve stem for inflatable tube gaskets which is particularly useful for the type of container indicated above.

Other objects of this invention will hereinafter be more particularly pointed out and for a more complete understanding of the characteristic features of this invention, reference may now be had to the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing in which latter: Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partlybroken away,

of a container embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the inflatable tube sealing member in a collapsed condition;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showingamodifled form of sealing member and valve-associated therewith; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 thereof, the present invention is shown as being embodied in an open-ended sheet metal shell I0 having an outwardly extending annular recess I2 in one end of the wall thereof adjacent to but preferably spaced from the edge of the open end thereof to form a rim l4.

A substantially cup-shaped sheet metal closure member it having a raised central portion l8 and a peripheral flange is provided for enclosing the open end of the shell. The flange 20 is parallel to the open end of the shell in and is shaped to fit therewithin. An inwardly projecting annular recess 22 is formed in said flange 20, being spaced from the outer edge of said flange so as to lie opposite the annular recess l2 in the shell l0.

A reinforcing ring 24, shaped to fit over the recessed portion I2 is disposed on the outer face of said recessed portion and is secured in place by the bent-over portion 26 of therim I4. Asv

shown in the drawing, the reinforcing ring 24 is provided with a downwardly extending annular flange 25 which serves as a support and prevents bending of the barrel stock in the event that the container is dropped on one end edge. A peripheral lip 21 on the flange 20 of the closure l6 extends radially outwardly therefrom for seating g on the bent-over portion 26 of the rim of the shell The open end of the'sealing cap is folded or crimped over the circular lip 34, thereby necessitating the tearing of the seal cap to remove the prevents undetectable access to the valve.

In Fig. 2 the inflatable tube member 28 is shown in inflated condition and it will be seen that it provides an eifective seal for the container l0 and the closure I6, preventing displacement of the closure from the container. A particular feature of this invention resides in the construction of this inflatable tube member and the manner in which it is associated with the recesses l2 and 22. It will be observed from examination of Fig. 2 that if the inflatable tube member 28 has a normally circular cross-section and is of sub-.

expensive but when inflated is relatively weak adjacent those areas of the container wall to which it has been caused to expand.

I have discovered that if the flexible tubular gasket as initially provided has a radius somewhat less than the radius of the annular recess 22 it may be stretched and snapped onto the peripheral flange 20 and positioned within the recess 22 under such tension that the tubular member will collapse and take on a substantially reniform cross-sectional configuration similar to that shown in Fig. 3. Thus when it is desired to assemble the closure on the shell of the container, the inflatable tube 28 in a deflated state is stretched and snapped over the peripheral flange 20 of the closure within the recess 22 in such a manner that the cross-section of the tube is distorted to a substantially reniform shape and disposes itself entirely within the recess 22 of the flange 20. The closure may then be moved I thereinto through the valve 30. The outside portions of the inflatable tube are then forced outwardly against the surface of the recess l2 to providethe structure indicated in Fig. 2. Due to the fact thatthe flexible inflatable tube has substantially uniform cross-sectional thickness in the deflated condition prior to the time that it is' snapped onto the closure-member, substantially the same shape results when it is inflated in the manner described. Consequently the thickness of the inflatable tube is substantially even adjacent the entire area contacted by it. The sealing cap 88 may then be crimped in position over the valve 84. When access is to be had to the contents of e container, the seal cap is destroyed and the va ve'84 is opened in the usual manner to release the air or other .fluid from the tube. This deflation causes the tube to again collapse to the shape indicated in Fig. 3, whereafter the closure may bereadily removed. 1

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, I have there shown a particular type of valve construction that may be employed with the inflatable tube gasket used in accordance with one embodiment of this invention. This valve construction comprises essentially a valve stem 38 vulcanized or otherwise secured to the inflatable.

tube 28 having an inner chamber 40 with a ball 42 loosely positioned therein. Preferably the valve system. 38 is formed of a resilient plastic material such as hard rubber and the ball 42 is formed of metal or a plastic material such as rubber or a synthetic resin. A fluid passageway 44 serves to communicate the tube with the chamber 40, and a fluid passageway 48 serves to communicate the chamber 40 with the atmosphere or a :supply of inflating fluid. The loosely mounted ball 42 is capable of moving. into a seat 48 provided in one end of the chamber 48 adjacent the passageway 46.

Fluid pressure within the inflatable tube 28 thus causes the ball 42 to move into the seat 48, thus closing off the passageway 48, preventing the escape of fluid from the tube into the atmosphere. Fluid pressure within the inflatable tube holds the ball 42 within the seat 48. However, if fluid pressure is applied to the passageway 48 from an outside source, the ball moves out of the seat 48 and thefluid flows around it through the chamber 48 and into the tube 28 through the pas- Y s'ageway 44.

- stem 38 are provided in one end of the cham- Projections 50 integral with the ber 40 to prevent the ball 42 from sealing the passageway 44. Thus air or other fluid may be readily forced into the inflatable tube 28 through the valve stem 38 but the escape thereof is prevented by pressure forcing the ball 42 into the seat 48; In order to release the pressure to deflate the tube, a suitable instrument may be inserted through the passageway 46, displacing the ball 42 from the seat 48, thus permitting the I ripheral flange extending substantially parallel to the wall of the shell and an annular recess extending inwardly in the flange for registration and cooperation with the outwardly extending annular recess in the wall of the shell: a resilient inflatable tube member having a normally circular cross section stretched tightly around said peripheral-flange within said inwardly extending annular recess so as to be collapsed therewithin when deflated to permit said closure to be freely positioned within the open end of said shell, said tube member also being adapted to expand into said outwardly extending recess in the shell when inflated, thus providing a tube seal of substantially uniform thickness between said shell and said closure, 'the outer half of the tube, when deflated, being concave and lying substantially within the inner half of the tubeand, when in.- flated, being convex and lying substantially within the annular recess in the shell.

2. In combination with a container comprising an open-ended shell having an annular recess extending outwardly in the wall of the shell adjacent the open end thereof, and a closure for enclosing the open end of the shell having a peripheral flange extending substantially parallel to extending annular recess and being adapted to fluid to flow around the ball and out of the passageway 46. The entire valve stem 38 is p eferably constructed of aresilient plastic material such as hardened rubber so that it may be readily vulcanized to the inflatable tube 28 and so that a yieldable pressure seal may be provided when the ball 42 is forced into the seat 48. The ball 42 may be formed of a resilient plastic material, such as rubber, so as to cooperate with the seat 48 to provide a tight and yieldable pressure seal.

While particular embodiments of this invention are shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

expand into said outwardly extending recess in the shell when inflated thereby providing a tube seal between said shell and said closure, the outer half of the tube, when deflated, being concave and lying substantially within the inner half of the tube and, when inflated, being convex and lying substantially within the annular recess in the shell.

3. In combination with a container comprising an open-ended sheet .metal shell having an annular recess extending outwardly in the wall of the shell adjacent one end thereof, a rigid reinforcing ring snugly embracing and fitting the contour of the outer wall of the shell adjacent said recess so as to retain said ring against axial movement, the edge of said ring being substantially flush with the open end of said shell, a cuplike sheet metal closure for said shell having a radially outwardly extending marginal lip adapted snugly to overlap the outer edge of said shell and ring, the wall of said closure having an outwardly facing annular recess which is registered in complementary relationship with said firstmentioned recess by means of said overlapping lip: a resilient inflatable tube member having a normally circular cross section stretched tightly around the wall of said closure within the outwardly facing annular recess so as to be collapsed a container compris 4. In combination with a container comprising an open-ended sheet metal shell, the wall adiacent the open end having formed therein an outwardly extending, inwardly facing annular recess, and a closure for enclosing the open end of said shell having a peripheral flange extending substantially parallel to said wall and having formed therein an inwardly extending, outwardly facing annular recess adapted to register and cooperate with the annular recess in said wall: a resilient inflatable tube member having a normally circular cross section stretched tightly around said peripheral flange within said outwardly facing recess so as to be collapsed therewithin when deflated to permit said closure to be freely positioned within the open end of said shell, said tube member also being adapted to expand into said inwardly facing recess in the shell when inflated thus providing a tube seal of substantially uniform thickness between said shell and said closure, the outer half of the tube, when deflated, being concave and lying substantially within the inner half of the tube and, when inflated, being convex and lying substantially within the annular recess in the shell.

5. In combination with a container comprising an open-ended sheet metal shell, the wall adjacent the open end being formed outwardly to to expand into said outwardly'cxtending recess provide an inwardly facing annular recess, and a closure ior enclosing the open end of said shell having a peripheral flange'extending substantially parallel to said wall and being formed inward- 1y to provide an outwardly facing annular recess adapted to register and cooperate with the annular recess in said wall, said last mentioned annular recess having an opening therethroughz -a resilient inflatable tube member having a valve stem secured thereto extending through said opening for ready access, said tube member having a. normally circular cross section and being stretched tightly around said peripheral flange within said outwardly facing recess so as to be collapsed therewithin when deflated to permit said closure to be freely positioned within the open end of said shell, said tube member also being adapted to expand into said inwardly i'acing recess in the shell when inflated, thus providing a tube seal of substantially uniform thickness between said shell and said closure, the outer halfof the tube, when deflated, being concave and lying substantially within the inner half of the tube and, when inflated, being convex and lying substantially within the annular recess in the shell.

6. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein said reinforcing ring has a downwardly extending annular flange-overlying a portion of the .shell wall below said annular recess, said flange serving as a support for said shell wall to resist deformation thereof adjacent said recess in the event that said container is dropped on its end edge. I

MORRIS SCHWARTZ. 

